U.S. patent number 7,028,840 [Application Number 10/050,801] was granted by the patent office on 2006-04-18 for package and method for storing and dispensing wet wipes in a pop-up format.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.. Invention is credited to Rodney Carlton Christianson, Paige Annette Dellerman, Mei-Chiung Huang, Yung Hsiang Huang, Robert Samuel Schlaupitz, Timothy Walter Shoaf.
United States Patent |
7,028,840 |
Huang , et al. |
April 18, 2006 |
Package and method for storing and dispensing wet wipes in a pop-up
format
Abstract
The invention relates to a package and method for storing and
dispensing wet wipes in a pop-up format. A group of wet wipes are
positioned in a container base between the container base and a
pop-up style dispensing partition, each wipe in the group of wet
wipes having a first visibility index. The container top has a
second visibility index and the pop-up style dispensing partition
has a third visibility index and the first visibility index is
different than the third visibility index such that when the
container top is closed the wipe from the group of wet wipes is
visibly indicated at the container top as being in-position or
not-in-position for pop-up dispensing as soon as the container top
is next opened.
Inventors: |
Huang; Yung Hsiang (Appleton,
WI), Schlaupitz; Robert Samuel (New London, WI), Huang;
Mei-Chiung (Neenah, WI), Christianson; Rodney Carlton
(Oshkosh, WI), Dellerman; Paige Annette (Appleton, WI),
Shoaf; Timothy Walter (Appleton, WI) |
Assignee: |
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
(Neenah, WI)
|
Family
ID: |
21967508 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/050,801 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2001 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20030111378 A1 |
Jun 19, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/494; 206/775;
206/812; 221/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K
10/421 (20130101); A47K 2010/3266 (20130101); Y10S
206/812 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
73/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;206/494,409,812,459.5,775-778 ;221/46,45,63 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
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0744357 |
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1081194 |
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05338660 |
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WO 01/74687 |
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Oct 2001 |
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WO |
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Other References
Patent Abstracts of Japan 60127337 A: Description of Toru et al.,
"Transparent Container made of Polypropylene Resin." cited by other
.
American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) Designation: D
412-98a, "Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and
Thermoplastic Elastomers--Tension," pp. 43-55, published Aug. 1998.
cited by other .
American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) Designation: D
790-99, "Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of
Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating
Materials," pp. 150-158, published Feb. 2000. cited by other .
American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) Designation: D
1003-00, "Standard Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance
of Transparent Plastics," pp. 1-6, published Jul. 2000. cited by
other .
American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) Designation: D
1044-99, "Standard Test Method for Resistance of Transparent
Plastics to Surface Abrasion," pp. 224-227, published Oct. 1999.
cited by other .
American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) Designation: D
2240-97, "Standard Test Method for Rubber Property--Durometer
Hardness," pp. 400-403, published Mar. 1997. cited by other .
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6125-97, "Standard Test Method for Bending Resistance of Paper and
Paperboard (Gurley Type Tester)," pp. 885-889, published Feb. 1998.
cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Bui; Luan K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bondel; Michael J. Baum; Scott
A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A package for storing and dispensing wet wipes in a pop-up
format, comprising: a container base connected with a container top
and a pop-up style dispensing partition positioned between the
container base and the container top; a group of wet wipes
positioned in the container base between the container base and the
pop-up style dispensing partition, each wipe in the group of wet
wipes having a first visibility index; the pop-up style dispensing
partition comprising a dispensing orifice through which a wipe from
the group of wet wipes is removed from the package when the top is
open; wherein the container top has a second visibility index and
the pop-up style dispensing partition has a third visibility index
and the first visibility index is different than the third
visibility index such that when the container top is closed the
wipe from the group of wet wipes is visibly indicated at the
container top as being in-position or not-in-position for pop-up
dispensing as soon as the container top is next opened; and wherein
each of the first, second, and third visibility indexes comprises
the visibility characteristics of total transmittance, haze and
clarity and wherein the container top has a Visibility indication
of at least 1 and no more than 4.
2. The package of claim 1 wherein the total transmittance of the
first visibility index is greater than the total transmittance of
the third visibility index.
3. The package of claim 1 wherein the haze of the first visibility
index is greater than the haze of the third visibility index and
the clarity of the first visibility index is less than the clarity
of the third visibility index.
4. The package of claim 2 wherein the clarity of the second
visibility index is greater than 1.
5. The package of claim 3 wherein the clarity of the second
visibility index is greater than 1.
6. The package of claim 2 wherein the clarity of the second
visibility index is greater than 5.
7. The package of claim 3 wherein the clarity of the second
visibility index is greater than about 5.
8. The package of claim 2 wherein the haze of the first visibility
index is less than the haze of the third visibility index and the
clarity of the first visibility index is greater than the clarity
of the third visibility index and the clarity of the second
visibility index is greater than about 5.
9. The package of claim 2 wherein the haze of the first visibility
index is less than the haze of the third visibility index and the
clarity of the first visibility index is greater than the clarity
of the third visibility index and the clarity of the second
visibility index is greater than about 15.
10. The package of claim 1 wherein the total transmittance of the
first visibility index is less than the total transmittance of the
third visibility index and the haze of the first visibility index
is less than the haze of the third visibility index and the clarity
of the first visibility index is greater than the clarity of the
third visibility index and the clarity of the second visibility
index is greater than about 5.
11. The package of claim 1 wherein the second visibility index is
dependent upon the difference between the first visibility index
and the third visibility index.
12. The package of claim 11 wherein the second visibility index is
inversely related to the difference between the first visibility
index and the third visibility index.
13. The package of claim 1 wherein one or both of the container
base and the container top is made of a rigid material.
14. A package for storing and dispensing wet wipes in a pop-up
format, comprising: a container base connected with a container top
and a pop-up style dispensing partition positioned between the
container base and the container top; a group of wet wipes
positioned in the container base between the container base and the
pop-up style dispensing partition, each wipe in the group of wet
wipes having a first visibility index; the pop-up style dispensing
partition comprising a dispensing orifice through which a wipe from
the group of wet wipes is removed from the package when the top is
open; wherein the container top has a second visibility index and
the pop-up style dispensing partition has a third visibility index
and the first visibility index is different than the third
visibility index; and wherein each of the first, second, and third
visibility indexes comprises the visibility characteristics of
total transmittance, haze and clarity and wherein the container top
has a Visibility Indication of at least 1 and no more than 4.
15. The package of claim 14 wherein the second visibility index is
dependent upon the difference between the first visibility index
and the third visibility index.
16. The package of claim 14 wherein the second visibility index is
inversely related to the difference between the first visibility
index and the third visibility index.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wet wipes have been made from a variety of materials. Wet wipes can
be moistened with a variety of suitable wiping solutions.
Typically, wet wipes have been stacked in a package in either a
folded or unfolded configuration. For example, containers or
dispensers for wet wipes have been available wherein each of the
wet wipes stacked in the container has been arranged in a folded
configuration such as a c-folded, z-folded or quarter-folded
configuration as are well known to those skilled in the art.
Sometimes the folded wet wipes have also been interfolded with the
wet wipes immediately above and below in the stack of wet wipes. In
an alternative configuration, the wet wipes have been placed in the
container in the form of a continuous web of material which
includes perforations to separate the individual wet wipes and
which can be formed in a stack or wound into a roll for the group
of wipes. Such wet wipes have been used for baby wipes, hand wipes,
household cleaning wipes, industrial wipes and the like.
The conventional packages which contain wipes, such as those
described above, have typically been designed to be positioned on a
flat surface such as a countertop, changing table or the like. Such
conventional packages have generally provided a plastic container,
tub or package which provides a sealed environment for the wet
wipes to ensure that they do not become overly dry. Some of the
conventional packages have also been configured to provide one at a
time dispensing of each wet wipe which can be accomplished using a
single hand after the package has been opened. Such single handed,
one at a time dispensing, often referred to as "pop-up" dispensing,
is particularly desirable because the other hand of the user or
care giver is typically required to be simultaneously used for
other functions. For example, when changing a diaper product on an
infant, the care giver typically uses one hand to hold and maintain
the infant in a desired position while the other hand is attempting
to dispense a baby wipe to clean the infant.
However, the dispensing of wipes from such conventional containers
for wipes has not been completely satisfactory. For example, this
is due at least in part to the ability of the package to visibly
indicate whether a wipe in the container is in-position or
not-in-position for pop-up dispensing before the container is
opened and a wipe is desired. In particular, for example, this can
concern the configuration and characteristics of the wipes, the
container top and the pop-up format dispensing means for dispensing
wipes in a group of wipes that are separably joined to each
adjacent wipe in the group to provide pop-up dispensing once an
initial wipe in the group is dispensed through the orifice. The
present invention builds upon the teaching disclosed in U.S. Ser.
No. 09/538,711 filed Mar. 30, 2000 entitled "WET WIPE CONTAINER
WITH FLEXIBLE ORIFICE" and that in U.S. Ser. No. 09/870,785 filed
May 31, 2001 entitled "FLEXIBLE ORIFICE FOR WET WIPES DISPENSER",
both assigned to the assignee of the present application and which
prior applications are incorporated fully herein by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In response to the difficulties and problems discussed above, for
example, container configurations and characteristics enabling
improved dispensing, and which may be more informative and reliable
to the user, have been discovered. For example, dispensing can be
improved or made easier when there is a visible indication, before
the container is opened, that a wipe is ready for dispensing upon
the opening of a resealable wipes dispenser and dispensing the wipe
in a plurality of wipes. That is, dispensing can be improved when
there is a visible indicator that a portion of the next or top wipe
is positioned in an orifice of the dispenser sufficiently
protruding so a user can readily grasp the same without having to
thread or re-thread the top wipe in the group through the
dispensing orifice after opening the container and before being
able to dispense a wipe. As another example dispensing can be
improved when there is a visual indicator, before the container is
opened, that wipe fall back has occurred such that a user can have
both hands free to re-thread the wipe before one hand engages in
wiping (e.g., holding down or changing a baby, wiping a surface,
etc.) and there is only the one other hand free to dispense wipes.
Wipe fallback can occur when a leading wipe in a plurality of wipes
separates completely from a following or trailing wipe prematurely,
i.e., before a sufficient portion of the following wipe is
positioned within the dispenser orifice to remain there for later
dispensing after the leading wipe is fully separated or disjointed
from the trailing wipe outside the dispenser. In such a fallback
situation, the following wipe would need to be re-threaded through
the dispensing orifice when its dispensing is next desired. This
may not be undesirable if done intentionally, i.e., if maintaining
a maximum moisture level for the wipes is desired and the
dispensing orifice is designed to easily accommodate reach-in
retrieval of the next wipe, but in any event a visual indicator
would be helpful to the user so the user knows whether both hands
may be needed before a wiping activity starts. The purposes and
features of the present invention will be set forth in and are
apparent from the description that follows, as well as will be
learned by practice of the invention. Additional features of the
invention will be realized and attained by the product and
processes particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings.
In one aspect, the invention provides a package for storing and
dispensing wet wipes in a pop-up format. The packages comprises a
container base connected with a container top and a pop-up style
dispensing partition positioned between the container base and the
container top. A group of wet wipes are positioned in the container
base between the container base and the pop-up style dispensing
partition, each wipe in the group of wet wipes having a first
visibility index. The pop-up style dispensing partition comprises a
dispensing orifice through which a wipe from the group of wet wipes
is removed from the package when the top is open. The container top
has a second visibility index and the pop-up style dispensing
partition has a third visibility index. The first visibility index
is different than the third visibility index such that when the
container top is closed the wipe from the group of wet wipes is
visibly indicated at the container top as being in-position or
not-in-position for pop-up dispensing as soon as the container top
is next opened.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for storing and
dispensing wet wipes in a pop-up format. In no required order,
though it may be advantageous, the method comprises providing a
plurality of wet wipes in a pop-up format in a package, the package
comprising a container base connected with a container top and a
pop-up style dispensing partition located between the container
base and the container top. The method further and/or then
comprises positioning a wipe from the plurality of wet wipes in a
dispensing orifice of the pop-up style dispensing partition. The
method also and/or then comprises visibly indicating at the
container top when the container top is in a closed position
whether a next wipe from the plurality of wet wipes is in-position
or not-in-position for pop-up dispensing as soon as the container
top is next opened.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for storing
and dispensing wet wipes in a pop-up format. In no required order,
though it may be advantageous, the method comprises obtaining a
plurality of wet wipes in a pop-up format in a package, the package
comprising a container base connected with a container top and a
pop-up style dispensing partition located between the container
base and the container top. The method further and/or then
comprises positioning a wipe from the plurality of wet wipes in a
dispensing orifice of the pop-up style dispensing partition. The
method also and/or then comprises opening the container top and
dispensing the wipe from the dispensing orifice and then closing
the container top. The method still further and/or then comprises
visibly indicating at the container top when the container top is
in a closed position whether a next wipe from the plurality of wet
wipes is in-position or not-in-position for pop-up dispensing as
soon as the container top is next opened.
In yet other aspects, the invention provides various
configurations, relationships, and/or characteristics for the
visibility indexes, package construction, and steps for making or
using the invention.
Definitions
As used herein, wet wipes of the invention are considered
"separably joined", "separably joining" (and variations thereof)
when each wipe of a plurality, e.g., in a stack or roll of wipes,
is engaging any adjacent wipe while in the dispenser or package
such that withdrawing the leading wipe through the dispenser or
package opening also withdraws at least a portion of the following
wipe through the opening before the leading wipe and the following
wipe separate completely from each other. Such engaging of any
adjacent wipe can include an interfolded relationship or a
non-interfolded relationship in combination with one or more of the
following between adjacent wipes: adhesive, friction, cohesion,
fusion bonding (e.g., ultrasonic welding, heat sealing), mechanical
entanglement (e.g., needle punching, steam sealing, embossing,
crimping), autogeneous bonding, and/or weakened line(s) (e.g.,
perforations, zones of frangibility, score line(s), crush
cutting).
As used herein, when the following wipe that has at least a portion
through the opening of the dispenser or package is intentionally
maintained in the opening after the leading wipe is completely
separated from the following wipe, this is referred to as "pop-up"
format or dispensing. To be intentionally maintained in the opening
means the opening is configured to so maintain the wipe therein,
such as through use of a constricting orifice or opening being
smaller than the wipe in at least one dimension of the wipe.
As used herein, "reach-in" dispensing is understood to mean having
to fetch a wipe out of a dispenser through an opening substantially
co-extensive with the walls of the dispenser or through a
restricted opening smaller than the perimeter defined by the walls.
In either case, the top wipe for dispensing rests on top of the
remainder of the stack of wipes and the top wipe needs to be
separated from the remainder of the stack each time anew when
dispensing is desired. An example of a reach-in dispenser is found
in the currently available baby wipes product sold by
Kimberly-Clark Corporation of Neenah, Wis. under the trade name
HUGGIES.RTM. Supreme Care.
As used herein, the term "rigid" is used to mean a level of
stiffness commonly associated with materials used to manufacture
wet wipes tubs. Numerically, these materials typically have a
flexural modulus (as measured in accordance with ASTM D790
"Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and
Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials") of about
500 Newtons per square millimeter or greater, more specifically
from about 1100 to about 1550 Newtons per square millimeter.
As used herein, the term "wet wipe" refers to a fibrous sheet that
has a liquid applied thereto during manufacture. The amount of
liquid or solution contained within each wet wipe can vary
depending upon the type of material being used to provide the wet
wipe, the type of liquid being used, the type of container being
used to store the stack of wet wipes, and the desired end use of
the wet wipe. Generally, each wet wipe can contain from about 25 to
about 600 weight percent or from about 200 to about 400 weight
percent liquid based on the dry weight of the wipe, for improved
wiping in certain situations. To determine the liquid add-on, first
the weight of a just-manufactured dry wipe is determined. Then, the
amount of liquid by weight equal to the weight of the
just-manufactured dry wipe, or an increased amount of liquid
measured as a percent add-on based on the weight of the
just-manufactured dry wipe, is added to the wipe to make it
moistened, and then known as a "wet wipe" or "wet wipes". The
liquid may include a fragrance and/or an emollient and may serve to
aid the fibrous sheet in retention of materials, which are to be
wiped up during its utilization.
As used herein, the term "visibility index" is understood to mean
an optical measurement of a material. The optical measurement
comprises three visibility characteristics or parameters: total
transmittance, haze and clarity. "Total transmittance" is
understood to mean the ratio of transmitted light to the incident
light passing through the material. "Haze" is understood to mean,
in transmission, the scattering of light by the material
responsible for the reduction in contrast of objects viewed through
it. Haze can be determined as the percentage of transmitted light
that deviates from the incident beam greater than 2.5 degrees on
the average. "Clarity" is understood to mean how well the fine
details of an object can be viewed through the material. Clarity is
determined in an angle range smaller than 2.5 degrees by which the
light is diffused.
As used herein, "visibility index test" is understood to mean
employing an instrument known as a haze-gard plus.TM. (i.e., from
BYK-Gardner-GmbH of Geretsried, Germany, known nationally as
BYK-Gardner USA of Columbia, Md.) or the like and which conforms to
the standards of ASTM D-1003 and ASTM D-1044, to measure the
visibility index of a particular material, e.g., a wipe, a package
wall or portion, or other material for which known the visibility
index is desired. In practice, the material for which a visibility
index is to be measured is prepared based on ASTM D-1003 and
measured following the operating procedure of the haze-gard
plus.TM. instrument. Each test specimen is cut from the material to
yield a size large enough to cover the entrance port of the
instrument sphere (e.g., at least approximately 1.5 cm in
diameter). Also, each test specimen should have opposite surfaces
free of dust, grease, scratches and blemishes, other than those
intended for use with the material. The haze-gard plus.TM.
instrument allows simultaneous measurement of the test specimen's
three visibility characteristics or parameters, but this does not
limit the invention, which only requires that one or more
visibility characteristic be measurable as desired.
As used herein, one visibility index is "different" than another
visibility index when there is a difference in any one of the three
visibility characteristics for two materials being compared (e.g.,
wipe vs. dispensing partition) based on a comparison of the
measured value for the same characteristic (e.g., the haze of the
wipe versus the haze of the dispensing partition, the clarity of
the wipe versus the clarity of the dispensing partition, or the
total transmittance of the wipe versus the total transmittance of
the dispensing partition).
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description
and the following detailed description are exemplary and are
intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide
a further understanding of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings are merely representative and are not intended to
limit the scope of the claims. Like parts depicted in the drawings
are referred to by the same reference numerals.
FIG. 1 representatively shows a perspective view of a package for
storing and dispensing wipes in a pop-up format with the container
top closed and a wipe visually indicated as being in-position for
pop-up dispensing, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 representatively shows the package of FIG. 1 but with the
container top open and the pop-uped wipe accessible for
dispensing.
FIG. 3 representatively shows the package of FIG. 2 but with the
dispensing partition pivotally separable from the container base as
well as the container top, and with no wipe in-position for
dispensing.
FIG. 4 representatively shows the package of FIG. 1 with a visible
indication that a wipe is not-in-position for pop-up
dispensing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As a result of their work, the inventors have determined that
particular pop-up format package configurations and characteristics
are better than others for overcoming some challenges to making
dispensing of wet wipes in a pop-up format more user friendly. Such
can be beneficial to, e.g., more accurate wipe retrieval and/or
reducing the likelihood of opening a container top to unknowingly
find wipe fallback. That is, the inventors believe they have
discovered new, surprising and unexpected ways to indicate to a
user the positioning of a wipe in a package before even opening the
package to retrieve a wipe. This is particularly advantageous in a
pop-up format package because of fallback or different dispensing
habits by users of the same package that could include desired
retrieval through a pop-up format dispensing orifice by one user
but only pop-up retrieval format by another.
As representatively illustrated throughout the figures, and for
explanation now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is depicted a
package 10 for storing and dispensing wet wipes in a pop-up format.
Package 10 includes a container base 20 connected with a container
top 22 and a pop-up style dispensing partition 24 positioned
between the container base and the container top. A group of wet
wipes 40 can be positioned or stored in the container base 20
between the container base and the pop-up style dispensing
partition 24. Each wipe 42 in the group of wet wipes has a first
visibility index. The dispensing partition 24 includes a dispensing
orifice 26 through which a wipe 42 from the group of wet wipes 40
is removed from the package when the top is open. Orifice 26 could
include a slit 28 and be rigid or of a flexible rubber-like
material (e.g., as taught in U.S. Ser. Nos. 09/538,711 or
09/870,785 supra) or an opening (not shown, but like taught in,
e.g., U.S. Des. Pat. No. 414,637 or PAMPERS.RTM. One-Ups!.TM. or
other conventional similarly functioning containers). The container
top 22 has a second visibility index and the pop-up style
dispensing partition has a third visibility index. The first
visibility index of the wipe 42 is different than the third
visibility index of the partition 24 such that when the container
top is closed (FIGS. 1 and 4) the wipe from the group of wet wipes
is visibly indicated at the container top as being in-position
(FIG. 1) or not-in-position (FIG. 4) for pop-up dispensing as soon
as the container top is next opened.
As stated previously, the visibility for a particular material
includes the three parameters of total transmittance, haze, and
clarity, and the visibility index is a quantitative measure of
optical characteristics of a material. When comparing the
visibility index of several materials, and in particular those that
interact with one another and/or are used in combination with one
another, e.g. a package of wipes, the inventors have made a
surprising and unexpected discovery. In particular, they have
discovered that this comparison can be controlled to visibly
indicate the positioning of one material relative to another, e.g.,
an object inside a package, as determined by the visibility indexes
of the materials. e.g., a package wall and a wipe. In turn, this is
related to a qualitative visibility indication as seen through a
pair of human eyes (i.e., preferably with 20/20 vision) viewing the
closed package at a set elevation and a set distance, such that the
human can determine the positioning of a desired material within
the package. In another aspect, the ability to control this
comparison (i.e., and thus be able to manipulate it with accuracy,
if desired) can provide a broader operating window for available
materials that can be selected to make the package and/or its
contents and still achieve the desired visibility indication
result. In a related aspect, this can be advantageous to enable the
use of materials that have a Visibility Indication between the
extremes of completely transparent and completely opaque, as
discussed in reference to the Table below (e.g., in the range from
1 to 4).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE Sample Visibility Index Values 3.sup.rd
1.sup.st 2.sup.nd Visibility Index minus Visibility Visibility
Example Index 3.sup.rd Index Index Indication Completely 5
transparent 1) T = 0, dT = +55, T = 59, 4 H = ~100, dH = -4, H =
62, C = ~0 dC = +19 C = 47 2) T = 84, dT = -29, T = 59, 3 H = 81,
dH = +15, H = 62, C = 41 dC = -22 C = 47 3) T = 84, dT = -29, T =
58, 2 H = 81, dH = +15, H = 98, C = 41 dC = -22 C = 15 4) T = 84,
dT = -29, T = 16, 1 H = 81, dH = +15, H = 92, C = 41 dC = -22 C = 5
Completely 0 opaque 5) T = 84, dT = -29, T = 87, 4 H = 81, dH =
+15, H = 47, C = 41 dC = -22 C = 36 6) T = 84, dT = -29, T = 84, 3
H = 81, dH = +15, H = 56, C = 41 dC = -22 C = 28 7) T = 58, dT =
-4, T = 59, 2 H = 98, dH = -2, H = 62, C = 15 dC = +4 C = 47 8) T =
58, dT = -4, T = 16, 1 H = 98, dH = -2, H = 92, C = 15 dC = +4 C =
5 9) T = 58, dT = -4, T = 23, 0 H = 98, dH = -2, H = 97, C = 15 dC
= +4 C = ~0 10) T = 30, dT = +25, T = 59, 2 H = 98, dH = -2, H =
62, C = ~0 dC = +19 C = 47 11) T = 30, dT = +25, T = 58, 1 H = 98,
dH = -2, H = 98, C = ~0 dC = +19 C = 15 12) T = 30, dT = +25, T =
16, 0 H = 98, dH = -2, H = 92, C = ~0 dC = +19 C = 5 13) T = 13, dT
= +42, T = 16, 1 H = 99, dH = -3, H = 92, C = ~0 dC = +19 C = 5 14)
T = 13, dT = +42, T = 23, 0 H = 99, dH = -3, H = 97, C = ~0 dC =
+19 C = ~0 15) T = 54, dT = +1, T = 59, 3 H = 21, dH = +75, H = 62,
C = 91 dC = -72 C = 47 16) T = 54, dT = +1, T = 16, 2 H = 21, dH =
+75, H = 92, C = 91 dC = -72 C = 5 17) T = 54, dT = +1, T = 30, 1 H
= 21, dH = +75, H = 99, C = 91 dC = -72 C = ~0 18) T = 54, dT = +1,
T = 22, 0 H = 21, dH = +75, H = 99, C = 91 dC = -72 C = ~0 19) T =
87, dT = -32, T = 59, 4 H = 6, dH = +90, H = 62, C = 97 dC = -78 C
= 47 20) T = 87, dT = -32, T = 58, 2 H = 6, dH = +90, H = 98, C =
97 dC = -78 C = 15 21) T = 87, dT = -32, T = 16, 1 H = 6, dH = +90,
H = 92, C = 97 dC = -78 C = 5 22) T = 87, dT = -32, T = 24, 0 H-6,
dH = +90, H = 99, C = 97 dC = -78 C = 1 23) T = 23, dT = +32, T =
59, 4 H = 13, dH = +83, H = 62, C = 96 dC = -77 C = 47 24) T = 23,
dT = +32, T = 16, 2 H = 13, dH = +83, H = 92, C = 96 dC = -77 C = 5
25) T = 23, dT = +32, T = 24, 1 H = 13, dH = +83, H = 99, C = 96 dC
= -77 C = 1 26) T = 23, dT = +32, T = 22, 0 H = 13, dH = +83, H =
99, C = 96 dC = -77 C = ~0 Key: "T" is total transmittance
parameter; "H" is haze parameter; "C" is clarity parameter; "dT" is
difference in T for compared materials; "dH" is difference in H for
compared materials; "dC" is difference in C for compared materials;
"~" means approximately. First Visibility Index: T = 55, H = 96, C
= 19
Reference is now made to the Table to further describe the
invention. The Table is the culmination of work done by the
inventors to show the visibility indexes for several different
materials, and as related to the invention. The particular
materials used were far sample purposes and in no way limit the
invention. Rather, it is the particular visibility index for such
material and the comparison of those indexes which relate to
components of the invention (i.e., wipe-first visibility index,
versus container top-second visibility index, versus dispensing
partition-third visibility index) that are significant. The Table
sets out a Key at the top. Directly underneath the Key, there is
seen the First Visibility Index for a material as if it were a
wipe. Underneath the First Visibility Index are several columns.
The first column identifies the various examples that were based on
a comparison of different sample materials. The next column
identifies the 3.sup.rd Visibility Index for a sample material as
if it were a dispensing partition. The next column identifies the
difference between the First Visibility Index and the Third
Visibility Index for a given example. The next column identifies
the 2.sup.nd Visibility Index for a sample material as if it were a
container top. The last column identifies the Visibility Indication
for a given example (i.e., whether the wipe from the group of wet
wipes can be visibly indicated at the container top as being
in-position or not-in-position for pop-up dispensing as soon as the
container top is next opened).
The Visibility Indication is the qualitative visibility indication
as seen through a pair of human eyes, where a rating of "5" means
clearly visibly (i.e., as if the container top were a completely
transparent material such as 1/18 inch thick clear glass) and
decreasing degrees of visibility from "4", "3", "2" to "1" (i.e.,
where the wipe would still be visibly indicated as being
in-position or not-in-position but not as clearly as "2" to "5")
are shown for comparison purposes, and a rating of "0"means not
visible at all (i.e., as if the container top were a completely
opaque material such as 1/4 inch thick plywood). With the
components of the invention in their relative positions, the
Visibility Indication was determined by positioning a one inch (2.5
cm) length of wipe sticking out of the dispensing orifice between
the dispensing partition and the container top, and with the
container top closed.
Further, and in reference to FIG. 1 for example, the Visibility
Indication was determined by a human observing the package 10,
with: the human's pair of eyes having a combined average vision of
20/20 or better; the eyes being positioned in the angle W from
about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees above the horizontal axis 50;
the eyes being at a distance 52 of between about 6 inches (15 cm)
and about 12 inches (30 can); end, the eyes being at a distance 54
of between about 6 inches (15 cm) and about 18 inches (45 cm). In
this way, simulating the container top being closed with the wipe
partially dispensed thereunder, the human could then make a visual
determination whether the wipe could be visibly seen at the
container top, based on the visibility scale of "0" to "5". If the
Visibility Indication was a "1" or higher, this meant that the
particular configuration of materials simulating the package of the
invention would visibly indicate to a user that the wipe was
in-position for pop-up dispensing as soon as the container top was
next opened. Using the same materials and if all else was constant
but the wipe was displaced from the dispensing orifice, then a
Visibility Indication of "1" to "5" would result In the wipe being
visibly indicated as not-in-position for pop-up dispensing as soon
as the container top was next opened. If the Visibility Indication
was "0" then this would mean it did not matter if the wipe was
in-position or not-in-position because no visual identification
could be seen through the container top.
It should be understood that the Visibility Indication does not
limit the invention per se. Rather, the Visibility Indication was
used to define aspects of the visibility indexes for components of
the invention. Particularly, it shows the combinations of and
interactions of the components and Their visibility indexes to
achieve the benefits of the invention, e.g., such that when the
container top is closed the wipe from the group of wet wipes is
visibly indicated at the container top as being in-position or
not-in-position for pop-up dispensing as soon as the container top
is next opened. In one regard, though, there is a lower limit that
the interaction of the visibility indexes need to surpass (e.g.,
illustrated in the Table as a Visibility Indication of at least 1)
or else it will simply not be possible to visibly indicate whether
a wipe is in-position or not-in-position for pop-up dispensing as
soon as the container top is next opened. Using the quantitative
and qualitative information taught here, a manufacturer of a
package could make the package have the desired features of the
invention such that a user of the package would only ever have to
make qualitative determinations to know that a wipe is in-position
or not-in-position for pop-up dispensing as soon as the container
top of the package is next opened.
Based on their research as exemplified here, and without being
limited to a particular theory of operation, the inventors believe
certain conclusions can be drawn to define aspects of the
invention. In a first aspect, as relates to the visibility index
difference between the 1.sup.st and 3.sup.rd visibility indexes, it
can be advantageous to have dT be a positive value (e.g. compare,
Examples 21 and 24, Examples 22 and 25, Examples 1 and 10, and
Examples 12 and 13). In a second aspect, also related to the
difference between the 1.sup.st and 3.sup.rd visibility indexes, it
can be advantageous to have dH be a positive value and dC be a
negative value (e.g. compare, Examples 2 and 7, Examples 2 and 10,
Examples 2 and 19, Examples 3 and 11, Examples 4 and 12, and
Examples 4 and 13). In a third aspect, as relates to the 2.sup.nd
visibility index, it can be advantageous to have a large T value
(e.g. compare, Examples 17 and 18). In a fourth aspect, also
related to the 2.sup.nd visibility index, it can be advantageous to
have a low H value and a high C value (e.g. compare, Examples 2 and
3, Examples 5 and 6, Examples 8 and 9, Examples 10 and 11, Examples
13 and 14, Examples 16, 17 and 18, and Examples 19 and 20). In a
fifth aspect, it can be advantageous, depending on the dT, dH and
dC, to have the C the second visibility index be greater than 1. In
a sixth aspect, it can be advantageous, depending on the dT, dH and
dC, to have the C of the second visibility index be greater than 5.
In a seventh aspect, it can be advantageous, to have the H of the
first visibility index be less than the H of the third visibility
index and the C of the first visibility index be greater than the C
of the third visibility index and the C of the second visibility
index be greater than about 5, and more advantageously, greater
than about 15. In an eighth aspect, it can be advantageous, to have
the T of the first visibility index be less than the T of the third
visibility index and the H of the first visibility index be less
than the H of the third visibility index and the C of the first
visibility index be greater than the C of the third visibility
index and the C of the second visibility index be greater than
about 5.
Also based on their research as exemplified here, and without being
limited to a particular theory of operation, the inventors believe
certain related conclusions can be drawn to define aspects of the
invention. In one aspect, it can be advantageous to have the
container top having a Visibility Indication of at least 1 and no
more than 4, e.g., this can provide a broader operating window for
available materials that can be selected to make the package and/or
its contents and still achieve the desired visibility indication
result. In another aspect, it can be advantageous to have the
second visibility index being dependent upon the difference between
the first visibility index and the third visibility index. In this
same aspect, it can be more advantageous to have the second
visibility index be inversely related to the difference between the
first visibility index and the third visibility index, e.g., where
the larger the value of dT, dH, and/or dC, the lower the value of T
and/or C can be for the second visibility index to still practice
the invention and the higher the value of H can be for the second
visibility index to still practice the invention.
Wipes for use with the present invention, e.g., wet wipes, can be
arranged in a package or dispenser in any manner which provides
convenient and reliable one at a time dispensing and which assists
the wet wipes in not becoming overly dry. For example, the wet
wipes can be arranged in a dispenser or package as a plurality of
individual wipes arranged in a stacked configuration to provide a
stack of wet wipes which may or may not be individually folded. The
wet wipes can be individual wet wipes which are folded in a c-fold
configuration, z-fold configuration, connected to adjacent wipes by
a weakened line or other non-interfolded configurations as are
known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the individual
wet wipes can be interfolded such that the leading and trailing end
edges of successive wipes in the stacked configuration overlap. In
each of these non-interfolded and interfolded configurations, the
leading end edge of the following wet wipe is loosened from the
stack by the trailing end edge of the leading wet wipe as the
leading wet wipe is removed by the user from the dispenser or
package. For example, representative wet wipes for use with the
invention are described in a U.S. patent application filed May 31,
2001 entitled, "PROCESS FOR JOINING WET WIPES TOGETHER AND PRODUCT
MADE THEREBY" of inventors Yung H. Huang et al., U.S. Ser. No.
09/870,815, assigned to the same assignee of this application, as
well as, in a U.S. patent application filed May 31, 2001 entitled,
"STACK OF FAN FOLDED MATERIAL AND COMBINATIONS THEREOF" of inventor
Gerald K. Sosalla, U.S. Ser. No. 09/871,019, assigned to the same
assignee of this application, both which applications are
incorporate fully herein by reference.
Another aspect of the invention concerns a method for storing and
dispensing wet wipes in a pop-up format, e.g., with the package 10.
The package may come to a consumer with a first wipe already
positioned in the dispensing orifice or a first wipe needing to be
positioned before dispensing the first wipe in the group of wet
wipes. In either case, the first wipe (or subsequent wipes if due
to fallback) can be positioned in the dispensing orifice by (1)
opening the container top and then reaching through the dispensing
orifice from the top of the container to pull and thread the first
wipe back through the orifice by, e.g., slit 28 if the orifice is
sufficiently non-rigid or large or is a sufficiently large opening,
or (2) by opening the dispensing partition 24 to thread the first
wipe up through the dispensing orifice while the container top is
closed or open and then closing the partition 24 on the container
base (and top onto the partition if it was open). With the wipe so
threaded in the dispensing orifice of a package of the invention,
the user can determine that the first wipe (or subsequent wipes
similarly located) is in-position for pop-up dispensing as soon as
the container top is next opened. Thus, the user can begin a wiping
activity (e.g., diaper changing, surface preparation, etc.) and
then open the container top and dispense the pop-uped wipe and
continue conducting the wiping activity conveniently and safely. If
the user does not immediately need the next wipe, it can be left in
the orifice partially dispensed where it can be maintained in place
by the pop-up style dispensing orifice until desired later, and the
container top can be closed to better preserve moisture in the
group of wipes or left open, as desired.
With the container top closed, and provided the succeeding
partially dispensed wipe rests in place in the orifice, part inside
the container base and part in the space between the container top
and the dispensing partition, the user will be able to determine at
a later time that the next wipe is in-position for pop-up
dispensing as soon as the container top is next opened.
Alternatively, at a later time when it is desired, if the following
wipe needs to be fetched out of the container base similar to the
first wipe (e.g., because the user pushed the following wipe back
into the container base storage portion after pop-up dispensing of
the leading wipe or through wipe fallback), the user can determine
that the next wipe is not-in-position, by a mere visual inspection
of the top of the container. In such a case, the user can re-thread
the next wipe, similar to the way they did first wipe, before
conducting a wiping activity so one or both of their hands are
available to re-thread the next wipe as needed. Then, once
re-threaded, the user can conduct a wiping activity more safely and
conveniently since only one hand will be needed for assured pop-up
dispensing. At a later time when another wipe(s) is desired, the
preceding steps can generally be followed again.
As discussed previously, the determining of the visibility index
that a user may perform as concerns the invention is not a rigorous
quantitative measuring with the visibility index test, but rather,
is a qualitative observation of the visual characteristics
attributable to the visibility indexes, as seen through a pair of
human eyes viewing the package at a set elevation and a set
distance. In reference to FIG. 1, for example, such determining by
a user without making quantitative measurements of the visibility
index can be made by a human observing the package 10 in a closed
condition, with: the human's pair of eyes having a combined average
vision of 20/20 or better; the eyes being positioned in the angle W
from about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees above the horizontal axis
50; the eyes being at a distance 52 of between about 6 inches (15
cm) and about 12 inches (30 cm); and, the eyes being at a distance
54 of between about 6 inches (15 cm) and about 18 inches (45 cm).
In this way, the human can make a visual determination whether the
wipe in the package is in-position or not-in-position for pop-up
dispensing as soon as the container top is next opened.
The features of the present invention can be used with a variety of
dispensers if such dispensers are modified based on the teachings
herein. An example of some such dispensers are seen in FIGS. 1 3 of
U.S. Ser. No. 09/870,785 supra. FIGS. 1 and 2 show wet wipe
dispensers having rigid plastic containers. FIG. 3 shows a wet
wipes dispenser having a flexible container (e.g., a form, fill,
seal type of film container) with a rigid port member attached
thereto. Each dispenser includes a top hingedly attached adjacent
an end portion of the dispenser. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispensers
have a removable cover which contains the rigid port which
surrounds the flexible, rubber-like sheet. The cover can be fixedly
or removably secured to the sidewalls of the base. For each
dispenser in FIGS. 1 3, the top is secured in a closed position by
a suitable latching mechanism. The shape of the rigid port in the
dispensers shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is oval and in FIG. 3
rectangular, but such port (i.e., and thus the flexible orifice
contained within the port) can be any shape and size large enough
to enable some clearance between the ends of the continuous slit
and the rigid port so as to not interfere with the dispensing
function of the flexible orifice.
Another example of dispensers which could include features of the
invention if they are modified based on the teachings herein, are
seen in U.S. Ser. No. 09/813,536 filed Mar. 21, 2001 entitled
"STORAGE AND DISPENSING PACKAGE FOR WIPES" assigned to the same
assignee of this application and which application is incorporate
fully herein by reference. The dispensers in this reference are
completely made of flexible film and include a resealable container
top and a container base with a pop-up style dispensing partition
comprising a dispensing orifice positioned between the top and the
base. Still another example of dispensers which could include
features of the invention if they are modified based on the
teachings herein, are seen in U.S. Des. Pat. No. 414,637 issued
Oct. 5, 1999, assigned to the same assignee of this application and
which application is incorporate fully herein by reference, as well
as, commercially available baby wipes dispensing tub product like
that known as currently available PAMPERS.RTM. One-Ups!.TM. of the
Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, USA.
All publications, patents, and patent documents cited in the
specification are incorporated by reference herein, as though
individually incorporated by reference. In the case of any
inconsistencies, the present disclosure, including any definitions
herein, will prevail. While the invention has been described in
detail with respect to the specific aspects thereof, it will be
appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an
understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations
to, variations of, and equivalents to these aspects which fall
within the spirit and scope of the present invention, which should
be assessed accordingly to that of the appended claims.
* * * * *